Best Shepherds Stew With Dumplings Recipes

MOM'S HEARTY BEEF STEW WITH DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large heavy pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until the oil is shimmering, and place the onion and beef into the hot oil. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of the steak seasoning, stir the meat and onions well, and sprinkle with 1 more teaspoon of seasoning. Add the celery, and cook and stir until the meat is browned, about 10 minutes.
• Pour in 2 cups of water to just cover the meat, onion, and celery, bring to a boil, and stir and scrape the browned bits of flavor from the bottom of the pan. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer until the beef is very tender, about 2 hours. Remove the meat and celery pieces from the pan, set the meat aside, and discard the celery.
• In a bowl, whisk together the gravy mix with 4 cups of water. Add the mixture to the juices in the pot, bring to a boil, and stir the meat back into the gravy mixture. Stir in the turnip and carrots, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes. Stir in the potatoes, cover, and simmer an additional 20 minutes.
• To make dumplings, mix the flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Cut the shortening into the flour mixture with a pastry cutter or two knives until the mixture looks crumbly. Pour in the milk, and lightly stir the mixture just until it combines to form a dough.
• Remove 2 cups of gravy from the pot, and reserve. Drop the dumplings by heaping tablespoon onto the meat and vegetables in the pot, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes. Do not peek until the time is up. Pour the reserved gravy back over the dumplings, stir lightly, and serve.

WINTRY BEEF VEGETABLE STEW WITH FLUFFY HERB DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Cook and stir beef in shortening in heavy 8-10 quart stock pot, until beef is well browned. (Note: If too much liquid builds up to prevent adequate browning, pour off excess liquid into a bowl and reserve. Continue to brown the beef and when well browned, add the reserved liquid back into the pot.).
• Add 5 cups hot water, 1/2 teaspoon salt and the black pepper.
• Heat to boiling; reduce heat.
• Cover and simmer until beef is almost tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Stir in potato, turnip, rutabaga, carrots, green pepper, green beans (if using), celery, onion, bouquet sauce, the bouillon cube and bay leaves.
• Cover and simmer until vegetables are tender (but do not overcook), stirring once, about 25 minutes.
• Prepare dough (see below) for Dumplings; set aside.
• Using a fork, blend together 1 cup cold water and the 4 tablespoons flour in a small mixing bowl; stir gradually into stew.
• Heat to boiling, stirring constantly.
• Boil and stir 1 minute; reduce heat.
• Do ahead tip: After boiling and stirring 1 minute, stew can be covered and refrigerated no longer than 48 hours. To serve, heat to boiling over medium-high heat. Continue as directed.
• DUMPLINGS:.
• In a large bowl, cut shortening into combined flour, baking powder, salt, parsley and herbs until mixture resembles fine crumbs.
• Stir in milk.
• Drop by heaping tablespoons onto hot meat or vegetables in boiling stew (do not drop directly into liquid).
• Cook uncovered 15 minutes.
• Cover and cook about 15 minutes longer. Cut a dumpling in half to test for doneness; you want them done but not dry!
• Serve stew piping hot, with a buttered baguette and a glass of cider, ale, or wine. As with all good stews, this stew is even better reheated the next day, after flavors have had a chance to meld. Stew leftovers freeze and reheat beautifully, and would make a delicious cottage or shepherd's pie.

FLUFFY LITTLE CLOUDS - OLD FASHIONED DUMPLINGS FOR STEW

Steps:

• Put the flour, seasonings, & suet in a large mixing bowl, mix thoroughly.
• (If you are adding herbs or extra seasonings, add them now & mix well.).
• Add sufficient cold water - bit by bit - to make a pliable dough; it should not be too sticky, but just bound together.
• Divide the dumpling mixture into 8 portions, and roll into small balls with floured hands.
• Drop them into your soup, casserole or stew 20 minutes before the end of the cooking time, making sure that the soup, stew or casserole is very hot.
• Put the lid on IMMEDIATELY and do NOT take the lid off until just before the end of the cooking time, about 15-18 minutes to check that they are nearly ready.
• They should have doubled in size at least, and be very light & fluffy looking!
• Ladle the soup, stew or casserole into warmed soup bowls & serve 2 dumplings per person.
• Oven baked: place the dumplings on top of your stew or casserole and cook for about 30 minutes at 200C or 400F, or until well risen, golden brown & crusty.

BEEF STEW WITH HERB DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• In a resealable plastic bag, combine four, salt and pepper. Add beef, a few pieces at a time, and shake to coat. In a Dutch oven, brown meat in oil. Add water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 1-1/2 hours. , Add the vegetables, parsley, thyme and bay leaf. Cover and simmer until meat and vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes. Discard bay leaf. Add browning sauce if desired. , For dumplings, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, thyme and sage. Cut in shortening until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in milk until moistened. , Drop by heaping tablespoonfuls onto simmering stew. Cover and simmer 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in a dumpling comes out clean (do not lift cover while simmering). Serve immediately.